Russian rocket crashes, explodes in failed launch

An unmanned Russian rocket carrying three satellites suddenly stalled 17 seconds after liftoff and fell back to Earth where it exploded in a fiery crash.

The rocket crashed moments after takeoff from the Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan, spilling its highly toxic propellant, heptyl, according to the Reuters news service. There have been no reports of injuries, but the three navigation satellites, worth about $200 million, were lost.

Footage of the crash, which quickly showed up on YouTube, shows a Proton-M booster rocket blasting off but then straying off course and igniting in flames as it falls to the ground where it exploded near the launch pad.

In an emergency government meeting called within hours of the crash, Kazakh Emergencies Minister Vladimir Bozhko said the rocket contained 172 tons of heptyl propellant, according to Reuters. Rainy conditions combined with low cloud cover is expected to keep any toxic cloud from reaching the town of Baikonur, which is about 38 miles away.

Regardless, officials have warned nearby residents to stay in their homes and keep their windows closed, Reuters reported.